KABUL, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan's total trade volume surpassed 13.901 billion U.S. dollars over the past year, covering 1.722 billion dollars in exports and 12.178 billion dollars in imports, government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said on Sunday.
During the same period, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce facilitated the signing of 150 memoranda of understanding, commercial agreements and investment contracts between Afghanistan's private sector and regional partners, with a combined value of 2.389 billion dollars, Mujahid said.
Authorities also allocated 2,804 acres of land to 576 factories, while 174 new industrial companies commenced operations across 16 sectors, generating 34 million dollars in industrial investment, said the official.
Afghanistan's main exports include fresh and dried fruits, hand-woven carpets, saffron, handicrafts, and precious and semi-precious stones. Key imports consist of medical supplies, electrical equipment, agricultural products, processed foodstuffs, textiles, leather goods, electrical components and construction materials. ■